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J. W. DEWEES.

PROCESS OF TRIMMING 0R SEPARATING PABRIGS.

N. PETERS, Phom-Lflhagmpher. Washingmn. ac.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS lUniiTnn STaTns PATENT @rrrcn.

JOHN V. DEIVEES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS GF TRHVHVHNG OR SEPARATHNG FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,698, dated December 23, 188%.

Application filed June 21, 1882.

T rtZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J our: W. Dnwnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ihila delphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Trimming or Separating Fabrics; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, illustrating a piece of fabric having a line of stitching and a trimmed edge lying outside the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a new method or process for trimming or separating fabrics; and said process consists in rupturing, rending, or pinching off such fabric on defined line by mechanical pressure applied thereto, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a method whereby any fabric united by stitching or sewing may have its su )erflu-' ous edges beyond the line of such stitching removed coincidently with the formation of such stitching and in line parallel therewith.

Such method consists in separating from the body of the fabric the superfluous edge thereof simultaneously with stitching or sewing such material, the separation being effected by rupturing, rending, or pinching off such In carrying my invention into effect the fabric to be trimmed is subjected to the action of any suitable appliance, device. or mechanism whereby it may be ruptured, rendcd, or pinched off with facility and uniformity. In Letters Patent No. 266,783 of October 31, 1882, I have shown a mechanical device where by a fabric may be trimmed in the manner described; but as my .present invention relates to the process whereby the result stated is attained, but is not confined to any particular means for the purpose in view, it is not limited to the mechanism shown and described in said patent. In lieu of the particular mechanism mentioned, I may employ rollers or disks or other appliances which will produce the effect of separating the body or constituent material or strands of any fabric capa- (No model.)

ble of being sewed or stitched by rending, rupturing, or pinching the same, as distinguished from a cutting or a shearing action.

Simultaneously with rupturing or rending the fabric the latter may be stitched on a sewing-machine; or the stitching may be first done and the trimming subsequently effected. Preferably the two operations are simultaneously performed, obtaining power from a single motor; but, if desired, separate motors may be employed for effecting such operations either coincidently or successively. In trimming hosiery or like fabrics it is desirable to trim off the edge quite close to the line of stitching; and, accordingly, in carrying my invention into effect I prefer to rupture the fabric in a line slightly outside the line of stitching and parallel or approximately parallel therewith. The line of rupturing may consequently be at a uniform distance from the line of stitching; or, if desired, mechanism may be employed which will produce a rupture in the form of a serrated or corrugated or sinuous line.

My invention is not, of course, confined to any particular extent of material removed, and will apply as well to a fabric divided in equal parts or on any line between its edges or boundaries as to one from which only a superfluous or waste edge has been'removed.

My invention has reference particularly to knitted and woven fabrics, but may be advantageously applied to leather and other products susceptible of treatment as herein set forth.

In the drawing, A designates the fabric, B the line of stitching, and O the trimmed. edge.

What I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. The process herein described of dividing or separating fabrics into parts by rupturing, rending, or pinching off a portion of the same on a defined line by mechanical pressure applied thereto, substantially asset forth.

2. The process herein described of produc ing a sewed or stitched and trimmed fabric, consisting in running a line of sewing or stitching therein and removing a portion of said fabric outside of such line by rupturing, rending, or pinching off the material by mechanical pressure, substantially as set forth.

3. The process herein described of produc- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I ing a sewed or stitched and trimmed fabric, have hereunto set my hand this 7th dayrof 10 consisting in stitching or sewing the same and June, 1882. simultaneously removing a superfluous edge T r 5 or part of such fabric by rending or rupturing JOHA DEWEES' the same in a line parallel or approximately lVitnesses:

parallel with the stitching, substantially as ANDREW ZANE, Jr.,

set forth. XVILL H. POWELL. 

